Pure silver mirror is durable

KYOTO—Kyocera Optic Co. has developed a silver mirror with an average reflectance of 98% over the 420- to 680-nm range. By using a novel coating method, the front surfaces of resin foundations can be coated; thus, durability is high and the method is applicable to many different mirror shapes.

Market conditions challenge tunable laser suppliers
The competitive situation and financial condition of telecom carriers have severely delayed the market for tunable lasers, tunable filters, and wavelength converters, according to a report by Strategies Unlimited (Mountain View, CA). In recent months, carriers have sharply reduced their capital expenditures for next-generation networking equipment. Continued strides are being made in laser performance and manufacturing cost, but these improvements will not suffice for the rapid adoption of wavelength-agile devices. Rather, device manufacturers will have to fine-tune their products to the particular economic and technical requirements of distinct applications in order to succeed in a period of market malaise.